Friday, November 13, 2015

Evangeline in Miss World

Did you know that for two years in a row, the Philippines was represented in the Miss World Pageant with ladies named Evangeline?

Exquisite Enchantresses Named Evangeline

Prior to their Miss World participation, both ladies competed in the Miss Republic of the Philippines Pageant, the official preliminary for Miss World before Mutya ng Pilipinas, Bb. Pilipinas and Miss World Philippines took over the national franchise.

Evangeline Reyes stands out effortlessly

1972 - Evangeline Rosales Reyes made the Top 15 in London. One of the semifinalists that year was Lynda Carter of the United States who later became more famous than the 1972 winner when she became TV’s iconic “Wonder Woman.”

Evangeline beams for the cameras

1973 - Evangeline Luis Pascual gave the Philippines its highest position since it first participated in Miss World 8 years before. There was a tie for the crown between Miss Philippines and Miss United States. American actor and pageant judge Gregory Peck reportedly broke the tie in favor of Marjorie Wallace.

Evangeline Pascual: Lovely after all these years

A few months after, Marjorie Wallace had to give up her crown reportedly for non- fulfillment of her Miss World duties. When Evangeline was asked to take over sans the crown, she was already busy with movie projects and so she declined.

Had she accepted the offer, we would have been the third country to have both Miss World and Miss Universe in the same year. (Margie Moran earlier won the Miss Universe crown in Greece). France was both Miss Universe and Miss World in 1953 while Australia won both crowns in 1972.

The name Evangeline surely is a lucky charm for Pinays who compete in Miss World.

For more Miss World trivia and updates on Hillarie Danielle Parungao’s participation in the 2015 Miss World Pageant, here’s the link: